Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko

[NickyFotiu]

Krav is 14 months older and showed some great stuff for twenty games. Kakko just did that for 20 playoff games. Krav ran away and turned his back on this team. He's lucky we're giving him another chance. You don't think Kakko could've got tired of the treatment by two different coaches and bolted as well? I'm certain a KHL team would've gladly handed him a contract. He stuck it out and that's why it will be Kakko starting in the top six this year , not Krav.

Again, I like Krav and hope he blooms here. It would be a glorious problem to have.

Kakko is no different than any other NHL player. If you produce you play more. Same for Krav. NHL coaches want you to produce. They are not looking to hold anyone back. Laf got more chances as he produced. So did Chytil. If KK raises his game he will definitely get more chances.

 

[bbny]

He's 22, Kakko is 21. Do you really think if Kravtsov was stapled to the top 6 & PP to start each season he would score as little as Kakko? Go back and read the GDT's of those 20 games when Krav was almost exclusively on the 4th line with Rooney & Howden, he was being voted one of the 3 stars nearly every game and everyone was saying how they wished Kakko looked like that. There is some serious revisionist history because people were mad at him.

The very first shift after Krav's first NHL goal he came out there and pulled off his signature between the legs deke around the defender, he has that swagger, the confidence, the skating of all the other young studs we envy around the league.

If you combined Kravtsov and Kakko, you’d have a really good top 6 hockey player. Kravtsov’s confidence, puck skills, shot, and skating + Kakko’s draft status and gift wrapped roster spot. Sure, it’s a bit one-sided, but….

 

[RagFinMet]

He's 22, Kakko is 21. Do you really think if Kravtsov was stapled to the top 6 & PP to start each season he would score as little as Kakko? Go back and read the GDT's of those 20 games when Krav was almost exclusively on the 4th line with Rooney & Howden, he was being voted one of the 3 stars nearly every game and everyone was saying how they wished Kakko looked like that. There is some serious revisionist history because people were mad at him.

The very first shift after Krav's first NHL goal he came out there and pulled off his signature between the legs deke around the defender, he has that swagger, the confidence, the skating of all the other young studs we envy around the league.

Why u make this a kravy vs kk thing??
I like both players
Im rooting for both players
There's room for both players
If kk is a 40 pt jan erixon then great(i know u dont know who he is) haha
If krav is buch 2.0 great
They bring different abilities every team needs

 

[NickyFotiu]

Why u make this a kravy vs kk thing??
I like both players
Im rooting for both players
There's room for both players
If kk is a 40 pt jan erixon then great(i know u dont know who he is) haha
If krav is buch 2.0 great
They bring different abilities every team needs

KK is not Jan Erixon and that is good imo. I know Jan had a lot of respect but I find guys that have no offense just as bad or worse than guys that have no defense. I remember we used to build him up as Mario's shadow but Mario still destroyed us lol. I think this season is critical for KK as a Ranger. We have other young guys that will be knocking on the door in a year or two so now is the time KK has to show he is a top 6 guy.

 

[Synergy27]

KK is not Jan Erixon and that is good imo. I know Jan had a lot of respect but I find guys that have no offense just as bad or worse than guys that have no defense. I remember we used to build him up as Mario's shadow but Mario still destroyed us lol. I think this season is critical for KK as a Ranger. We have other young guys that will be knocking on the door in a year or two so now is the time KK has to show he is a top 6 guy.

Playing defense is about will and IQ.

Playing offense, unless you are a transcendent talent, is about confidence and opportunity.

KK is not a transcendent offensive talent. He is three years into his NHL career. It is time for him to show confidence in his game, assert himself, and learn how to score despite his limitations.

He has had plenty of opportunity. He will get more this year.

 

[JohnC]

Krav becoming Gallant’s new whipping boy might be the best thing for Kakko

Kakko being better than Krav might be the best thing for Kakko

 

[bhamill]

The cope lol, at this point I think when this guys 34 years old people are still gonna say he’s gonna breakout any minute, he’s just a late bloomer. When Krav outscores him this season what will the excuse be? That Krav was given more opportunity lol?

It might be that Krav will be starting his D+5 season while Kakko is starting his D+4? Kakko will still be 21 when the season starts. I don’t think it’s weird that people haven’t given up on him. Hahaha.
it’s funny to watch you drag Kakko because despite being a year younger he has accomplished WAY more in the NHL, than Krav whom you defend “vigorously.”

personally I think they will both be fine NHLers.

 

[bhamill]

He's 22, Kakko is 21. Do you really think if Kravtsov was stapled to the top 6 & PP to start each season he would score as little as Kakko? Go back and read the GDT's of those 20 games when Krav was almost exclusively on the 4th line with Rooney & Howden, he was being voted one of the 3 stars nearly every game and everyone was saying how they wished Kakko looked like that. There is some serious revisionist history because people were mad at him.

The very first shift after Krav's first NHL goal he came out there and pulled off his signature between the legs deke around the defender, he has that swagger, the confidence, the skating of all the other young studs we envy around the league.

Let me bottom line it for you: Krav is 2+2 and a -6 in 20 whole NHL Games through his D+4 season. He was also a top 10 pick. Yes I know you SAY he is going to break out this year, which you mock people saying about Kakko. Hahah. I’m not saying you are wrong about Krav, I’m saying you have a tiny bit of a double standard going on here. Hahaha.

 

[bleedblue94]

Let me bottom line it for you: Krav is 2+2 and a -6 in 20 whole NHL Games through his D+4 season. He was also a top 10 pick. Yes I know you SAY he is going to break out this year, which you mock people saying about Kakko. Hahah. I’m not saying you are wrong about Krav, I’m saying you have a tiny bit of a double standard going on here. Hahaha.

I hate to admit this but I agree to an extent with @EdJovanovski in that I expect kravtsov will end up outplaying kakko this coming year. The qualifier for this is they both tend to sulk if they aren't where they want to be as opposed to the players that fight back and earn the spot. That being said I think kakko ends up in a top 6 role to start the year, kravtsov in a top 9, but kravtsov being the guy that establishes himself more so this coming year. He's coming back bc he wants this, aside from stat watching he was impactful even when being misplayed as a forth liner a couple years ago. I think kravtsov is coming here in a good place and I expect good things this year so long as his attitude doesn't turn to shit early

 

[bhamill]

I hate to admit this but I agree to an extent with @EdJovanovski in that I expect kravtsov will end up outplaying kakko this coming year. The qualifier for this is they both tend to sulk if they aren't where they want to be as opposed to the players that fight back and earn the spot. That being said I think kakko ends up in a top 6 role to start the year, kravtsov in a top 9, but kravtsov being the guy that establishes himself more so this coming year. He's coming back bc he wants this, aside from stat watching he was impactful even when being misplayed as a forth liner a couple years ago. I think kravtsov is coming here in a good place and I expect good things this year so long as his attitude doesn't turn to shit early

Hey buddy, it wouldn’t surprise me if Krav makes an impact this year, it’s his D+5 season. I certainly hope he does I hope I didn’t come off as being too negative about him, I was just busting Jovo’s balls a little. Haha. I will be surprised if Kakko does not also make an impact, he’s showed signs and it’s his D+4. Who does more? Can’t say, and I don’t care as long as they both make an impact. Hopefully they both have breakout years.

 

[Rangers in 7]

He's 22, Kakko is 21. Do you really think if Kravtsov was stapled to the top 6 & PP to start each season he would score as little as Kakko? Go back and read the GDT's of those 20 games when Krav was almost exclusively on the 4th line with Rooney & Howden, he was being voted one of the 3 stars nearly every game and everyone was saying how they wished Kakko looked like that. There is some serious revisionist history because people were mad at him.

The very first shift after Krav's first NHL goal he came out there and pulled off his signature between the legs deke around the defender, he has that swagger, the confidence, the skating of all the other young studs we envy around the league.

When has Kakko been stapled to the top 6 and the PP?

I mean I know you just want to shit on Kakko and pump krav’s tires but to compare the two is laughable. I want kravtsov to succeed just as much as you do. But NEITHER have been given the time to succeed. Don’t be out here pretending like Kakko has been given anything more then your boy

 

[Fitzy]

Very different kinds of players.

Most of Kakko's PP time came his rookie season when he was playing at, frankly, an ECHL level. Even then, he may end up one of those player who is just better at providing offense during even strength- it'll be a long time before he'd ever be asked to play PP1 here- I think Lafreniere is the intuitive new choice when a spot opens.


I thought we'd sort of agreed that Kakko as a player was optimistically trending towards something more resembling late-career Rick Nash- a great possession two-way player who lacks the shot to be a true first line threat, but can still deke the puck into the net.

Kravtsov the jury is still out on. I don't see him forging a career in the NHL as anything other than a serious scoring, offensive minded forward. If he plays with either Panarin or Zibanejad the expectation will be for him to finish plays, and that's mostly what he will be evaluated on.

Think of him as this season's Vatrano replacement. He won't be asked to drive plays, he'll be asked to poach.

 

[jerseyjinx94]

Does this have to become a Kakko or Kravtsov thing, like people are with dogs and cats. Can’t I like both?

 

[NYRFANMANI]

Does this have to become a Kakko or Kravtsov thing, like people are with dogs and cats. Can’t I like both?

Pretty much expected way discussions go. We had Kakko vs. Laf for a short time last season.

We can like all three.

 

[rangersfansince08]

He's 22, Kakko is 21. Do you really think if Kravtsov was stapled to the top 6 & PP to start each season he would score as little as Kakko? Go back and read the GDT's of those 20 games when Krav was almost exclusively on the 4th line with Rooney & Howden, he was being voted one of the 3 stars nearly every game and everyone was saying how they wished Kakko looked like that. There is some serious revisionist history because people were mad at him.

The very first shift after Krav's first NHL goal he came out there and pulled off his signature between the legs deke around the defender, he has that swagger, the confidence, the skating of all the other young studs we envy around the league.

At this point I think krav ends up a 60 pt 2nd line winger and Kakko a 3rd liner.

 

[rangersfansince08]

If Kakko can be a 50 pt 2nd liner I'd be happy at this point

 

[EdJovanovski]

When has Kakko been stapled to the top 6 and the PP?

I mean I know you just want to shit on Kakko and pump krav’s tires but to compare the two is laughable. I want kravtsov to succeed just as much as you do. But NEITHER have been given the time to succeed. Don’t be out here pretending like Kakko has been given anything more then your boy

Since the very start of his career he has been lol, his first NHL game Kakko was in the top 6 & on PP1. Every season he started in the top 6.

Kakko has definitely been given more than Kravtsov, in 2019 by all accounts Kravtsov was our best player in camp. In that 2019 preseason Kravtsov not only outscored Kakko, but he outscored Zibanejad, Kreider, Strome & Fox too. But Kakko made the team over him because of his draft pedigree. We also never would’ve sent Kakko down for Hajek. You can argue Kakko hasn’t been put in as great of a situation to succeed as other top picks has but he’s definitely been treated better by the organization than Kravtsov

 

[irishlaxburger2]

I hate to admit this but I agree to an extent with @EdJovanovski in that I expect kravtsov will end up outplaying kakko this coming year. The qualifier for this is they both tend to sulk if they aren't where they want to be as opposed to the players that fight back and earn the spot. That being said I think kakko ends up in a top 6 role to start the year, kravtsov in a top 9, but kravtsov being the guy that establishes himself more so this coming year. He's coming back bc he wants this, aside from stat watching he was impactful even when being misplayed as a forth liner a couple years ago. I think kravtsov is coming here in a good place and I expect good things this year so long as his attitude doesn't turn to shit early

Kravtsov may be a better fit for the top 6 simply for being a player who is shoot-first. It's why Vatrano got top line minutes in the playoffs.

As long as he isn't a turnover machine and gives consistent effort night in and night out, his shot alone - and willingness to use it - will keep him in the top 6.

 

[bbny]

Does this have to become a Kakko or Kravtsov thing, like people are with dogs and cats. Can’t I like both?

Sure, but there’s a competition for the last top 6 spot right now (assuming Lafreniere elevated to the top 6 is a given).

The debate naturally shifts to Kravtsov or Kakko for that spot, but watch Gallant tell us to f*** off and stick Sammy Blais with Bread and Trocheck instead.

 

[Fitzy]

Sure, but there’s a competition for the last top 6 spot right now (assuming Lafreniere elevated to the top 6 is a given).

The debate naturally shifts to Kravtsov or Kakko for that spot, but watch Gallant tell us to f*** off and stick Sammy Blais with Bread and Trocheck instead.

Or Goodrow.

Hopefully Gallant sees reason and doesn't try to play galaxy brain

 

[Kupo]

Came to see if there was any traction with Kakko. Instead, I’ve come to find out he and Kravtsov are going to have a steel cage battle to the death.

 

[duhmetreE]

It’s amazing how well propaganda works.

Kakko is entering his age 21 season.

Kravtsov had 4pts in 20 games at age 21.

Snap back to reality

 

[Nickmo82]

Since the very start of his career he has been lol, his first NHL game Kakko was in the top 6 & on PP1. Every season he started in the top 6.

Kakko has definitely been given more than Kravtsov, in 2019 by all accounts Kravtsov was our best player in camp. In that 2019 preseason Kravtsov not only outscored Kakko, but he outscored Zibanejad, Kreider, Strome & Fox too. But Kakko made the team over him because of his draft pedigree. We also never would’ve sent Kakko down for Hajek. You can argue Kakko hasn’t been put in as great of a situation to succeed as other top picks has but he’s definitely been treated better by the organization than Kravtsov

Maybe it actually helps to not run off home like a child after every set back? If Kravstov had taken his demotions and bottom 6 time well, then he'd have been "given more" too, no doubt.

 

[bhamill]

Sure, but there’s a competition for the last top 6 spot right now (assuming Lafreniere elevated to the top 6 is a given).

The debate naturally shifts to Kravtsov or Kakko for that spot, but watch Gallant tell us to f*** off and stick Sammy Blais with Bread and Trocheck instead.

I think the 2nd line vs 3rd line thing is overblown In todays NHL. It all depends on how the coach balances playing time. They could easily be 2a and 2b in usage Getting about the same time. Something like 20, 16, 16, 8mins for 4 lines isn’t unusual. Special teams not withstanding.

 

[bbny]

I think the 2nd line vs 3rd line thing is overblown In todays NHL. It all depends on how the coach balances playing time. They could easily be 2a and 2b in usage Getting about the same time. Something like 20, 16, 16, 8mins for 4 lines isn’t unusual.

I dunno man. Kind of a big difference on whether a player is lining up with Panarin and Trocheck, or like Goodrow and Chytil....don't ya think? Not just about TOI.